Appleton takes over at Pompey

10 November 2011 04:16

Michael Appleton was confirmed as the new manager of Championship strugglers Portsmouth on Thursday, vowing to resurrect the club's fading fortunes.

The 35-year-old heads to Fratton Park on a three-and-a-half-year deal after leaving Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, where he worked as an assistant to Roy Hodgson.

Appleton went into coaching after his playing career -- which included a spell at Manchester United -- was cut short by a knee injury in 2003.

He is the 21st footballer to have played under Sir Alex Ferguson at United to have subsequently gone into management, following in the footsteps of Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Roy Keane and Mark Hughes.

"I'm delighted and excited to be taking the job and hopefully I can share that enthusiasm and excitement out around the club," Appleton told Portsmouth's official website.

"It's going to be a progressive challenge. You get judged on results and the first team is the most important thing, but we want to build the infrastructure of the club, developing the academy and hopefully along the line getting our own training ground. Things like recruitment will be key."